Clicking when accelerating from stop

[Christoph]

Noise started yesterday. Get three or four "clicks" when accelerating from stop. Sounds like metal on metal. Only happens when accelerating from stop, if I give it some gas when I'm already moving at 10-15mph I don't hear anything.

Read elsewhere that it may be the U joints. Is there any way I can confirm that without taking driveshaft out? Are there any other potential culprits? Or is it almost definitively the U joints?

Thanks in advance for any guidance.



Note and side question:

I bought this jeep two months ago and have flushed the coolant and changed the oil. If it is the U joints is this a good time to change the trans and differential fluid?

 

[JEEPCJTJ]

Since you've only had it a couple months this is a good time to change the transmission and transfer case and differential fluids no matter what.

You should be able to check the universal joints by getting under there and twisting, shaking and pulling on the drive shafts. checking the two in the front axles may be somewhat harder but it can and should be done too. Twisting, shaking and pulling on other stuff down there ain't a bad idea either.